Alibaba, or what I like to affectionately refer to as Asia’s Amazon.com, is rolling up its sleeves in a move that’s sure to have investors’ attention for some time to come.

Late Tuesday, the technology giant announced it’s opening up its coffers and spending $15 billion to build overseas research hubs to compete against global leaders such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) in markets such as e-commerce, cloud technology and logistics.

In the immediate aftermath of the Alibaba news, shares tacked on 0.86% to finish at a new all-time-high. But is this really a case of the sky being the limit for BABA stock or pie-in-the-sky for today’s investors?

BABA Stock Weekly Chart

Click to EnlargeWhen I last wrote about Alibaba stock one month ago, the discussion centered on the favorable shift in bullish momentum and a third flat base pattern four-weeks in length readying for a breakout.

To say the least, with the spread expanding from $2.70 to $5.75, it has already proven to be a very nice and profitable play.

Looking forward, the price action looks good without being overbought as evidenced by Alibaba’s positioning relative to its supportive Bollinger Bands. I’d add with shares only a couple percent removed from its latest breakout and the numerical $200 price magnet less than 10% away, that’s a very real target in the coming weeks with earnings on the horizon.

If Alibaba stock does move higher and it tests $200, I believe there will be an increased chance for a period of corrective base-building. After three consecutive breakouts from fairly confident, tight and short price patterns that have collectively imbued bulls’ spirits and fattened wallets, I’d anticipate a situation where both time and price action raise some doubts and heartbeats.

BABA Stock Bull Call Spread

Click to EnlargeGiven our short-term bullish view that BABA stock is mostly in position to continue rallying, taking partial profits on the prior October spread makes sense. This is especially true given that spread’s construction and traders are now able to potentially ride the balance for free or adjust into stronger opportunities.

Reviewing Alibaba’s options for fresh ideas, the November $190 / $200 call vertical is attractively priced. With BABA stock at $184.55, the spread trades for $2.95.

For just a tad more than 1.50% stock risk, the trader has the opportunity to capture $7.05 above $200 in Alibaba stock at expiration for a max return approaching 240%.

However, given what’s already been addressed above and some concern of a pie-in-the-sky type disappointment, a layer of money management on top of the limited and reduced risk vertical is a favorable approach.

Disclosure: Investment accounts under Christopher Tyler’s management do not currently own positions in any securities mentioned in this article. The information offered is based upon Christopher Tyler’s observations and strictly intended for educational purposes only; the use of which is the responsibility of the individual. . For additional market insights and related musings, follow Chris on Twitter @Options_CAT and StockTwits and feel free to click here to learn more about how to design better positions using options!